Azerite Traits and The Heart of Azeroth

Back at BlizzCon 2017, we learned that The Heart of Azeroth would be a new system in Battle for Azeroth to replace the current Artifact Weapons system.Now we've finally received more concrete data on the system, as it has been added to the game.

Note: This is all based on Beta data, which is likely incomplete and subject to change at any time.

Heart of Azeroth

The Heart of Azeroth is an artifact-quality medallion that is a gift from Azeroth through her diamond-speaker, Magni Bronzebeard. Here are its basic details:

You'll carry the Heart of Azeroth throughout the entire expansion. It is the new "Artifact Weapon".

The Heart of Azeroth is empowered by Azerite and will automatically absorb any nearby Azerite. No loss of bag space or time spent clicking!

Once the Heart of Azeroth absorbs enough Azerite, it can level up. Upon reaching certain levels, it will awaken some latent properties in another piece of gear.

Layout

Currently, there is no final UI layout for the Azerite pieces. During BlizzCon, Blizzard showed their first version of the Azerite pieces UI, as shown below, to the left, with the tiers of traits highlighted. Currently, in Alpha, Blizzard has a temporary UI for Azerite Trait testing, shown to the right. This UI is oversimplified and will likely resemble what was shown during BlizzCon by the time Battle for Azeroth launches. During BlizzCon there were four different tiers of traits shown, but this number has been since reduced to three tiers in Beta.

Current testing pieces seem to have the following layout:

Tier 2: One generic trait and one option per class specialization;

Tier 1: Two generic utility/defensive traits.

Tier 0:

Azerite Gear

Players will be able to unlock new "traits" on pieces of gear when the Heart of Azeroth reaches certain thresholds. This system is very similar to the Netherlight Crucible in terms of choosing traits. Reach a certain level of power, unlock a new trait.

The current plan is that Helm, Shoulders, and Chests will be able to be empowered by the Heart of Azeroth. Those pieces have no secondary stats, meaning only the traits should influence you equipping them.

You can change the traits on a piece!

Each of these pieces has 2 rings; each ring has multiple traits on it. When a ring is unlocked, players will be able to choose a single trait to learn.

The outer ring unlocks first and consists of 3 possible choices. The inner ring unlocks second, and consists of 2 possible choices.

A piece with the same name will have the exact same layout of traits -- You'll be able to see it in the Dungeon Journal. No RNG!

However, higher item level pieces will have more powerful traits, but Azerite attuned pieces can not titanforge.

Offensive traits will also be paired on the same ring as other offensive traits. Utility traits will always be paired on the same ring as other utility traits. This will create meaningful choices.

Once you choose a trait, the ring will rotate until your choice is at the top!

Currently, in Beta, you cannot change the trait selected on each tier, but a new NPC has been added with this purpose, just not yet active.

Recent Build Changes

Note: Azerite Power may be renamed to Artifact Power.

Build 26624 added new NPCs in Boralus and Zulzadar, called Azerite Reforgers. The NPCs are Ethereals, working together with others like the Void Storage and Transmogrification assistants, and have as purpose to allow you to change selected Azerite Traits in an item. While not currently active, the idea behind them was shared in the latest Q&A, the change will cost gold, a small amount a start, and quickly increase, but decay over time.

The previous build had Azerite Powers spread among four tiers and this build has the Azerite Powers consolidated down to three tiers. The UI is temporary -- it is not final.

Some quests now reward Azerite Power gear. The quest rewards include helms, chests, and shoulders, and all three slots have the same Azerite Power setup. In addition, all Azerite Powers that are not class-specific are the same on any piece of gear rewarded from that quest.

For example, rewards Azerite Power armor. All possible Cloth, Leather, Mail, and Plate rewards will include on the top level as well as and on the middle level.

Other datamined Azerite Powers appear to be related to upcoming dungeon drops. For example, Thros is related to Waycrest Manor and Rezan is related to Atal'Dazar.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to draw a Wandering Soul from Thros. The Soul grants you some of its power, increasing your 154 Critical Strike for 14 sec.

Being attacked by an enemy of the Loa has a chance to call a Child of Rezan to grant you a blessing, healing you for 462 and increasing your primary stat by 116 for 1 min.

Armor with Azerite Traits

You can preview all of the armor with Azerite Powers by going to Items > Grants Azerite Powers. At the time of writing this post, there are over 200 items with Azerite Powers attached.

Every item page on Wowhead shows which Azerite Powers are attached. To view the calculator, go to a specific item's page, find the "Azerite Powers" section on that page, and select a class. You will then see the Azerite Powers for each tier.

You can mouseover the traits to see their tooltips and middle-click them to open their spell page as well! You can also share your Azerite Power builds with your friends, all you need to do is to share the URL of the page after you select the traits and it will direct them to the exact same build!

Here are some examples below using and :

BlizzCon Pictures

Complete Azerite Trait List

There are dozens of different traits! Click on the categories below to expand them, revealing the traits below it.

- Your damaging abilities have a chance to grant you 25 applications of Overwhelming Power. Each stack of Overwhelming Power grants 15 Haste. An application of Overwhelming Power is removed every 1 sec or whenever you take damage.

- Your heals on targets below 35% health have a chance to heal for an additional 208.

- Taking damage has a chance to increase your maximum health by 1088 for each enemy within 0 yds, up to 5 enemies. Lasts 15 sec.

- Taking damage has a chance to create an upwelling of Azerite beneath your feet, increasing your Health by 1905 and your Armor by 111 while you stand within it. Lasts until cancelled.

- Your healing effects have a chance to increase your Haste by up to 0 for 6 sec. Healing lower health targets will grant you more Haste.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to draw a Wandering Soul from Thros. The Soul grants you some of its power, increasing your Critical Strike by 154 for 14 sec.

Your damaging abilities have a chance to invoke a tainted swamp beneath the target, siphoning (270 * 6) health from them over 6 sec.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to grant you Meticulous Scheming for 8 sec, which transforms into Sieze the Moment! after you cast 3 different spells, granting you 55 Haste for 20 sec seconds.

Being attacked by an enemy of the Loa has a chance to call a Child of Rezan to grant you a blessing, healing you for 462 and increasing your primary stat by 116 for 1 min.

Your damaging abilities have a chance to call a Child of Rezan to viciously rend your target, dealing 156 Physical damage and causing them to bleed for (4 * 31) damage over 12 sec.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to draw a Wandering Soul from Thros. The Soul will launch blasts of dark energy at your enemies, dealing 693 Shadow damage over 14 sec. When the Soul departs, it heals you for 1% of the damage it dealt.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to summon a cylone of piercing winds. Enemies inside the cyclone take 693 damage every 2, and deal 231 less damage to you.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to create a Surging Droplet nearby. Collecting it increases your primary stat by 110 for 18 sec.Rarely, a Void Droplet will be created, increasing your primary stat by 219 for 18 sec instead.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to draw a Wandering Soul from Thros. The Soul grants you some of its power, increasing your Critical Strike by 154 for 14 sec.

Your spells and abilities have a chance to draw a Wandering Soul from Thros. The Soul grants you a shield that absorbs 231 damage for 14 sec. When the shield is consumed or expires, the Soul releases a wave of dark energy dealing 539 Shadow damage to all enemies within 8 yds.